Obturator-operating mechanism for guns



March 16 1926.

C. H. FROELICH OBTURATOR OPERATING MECHANISM FOR GUNS I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 a v INVENTOR fllare wefi Wat-(i613,-

Filed Feb. 13. 1924 March 16 1926.

C. H. FROELICH OBTURATOR OPERATING MECHANISM FOR GUNS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 13, 1924 mvizu'ron 0mm; Eliaelllfi C. H. FROELICH OBTURATOR OPERATING MECHANISM FOR GUNS March 16 1926.

' Filed Feb. 13, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 15, 1926.

CLARENCE HERVY FEOELICE, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANiA.

OBTUEATOR-OEERATING MECHANISM FOR GUN$.

Application filed February 13, 1924:. Serial No. 692,492.

To all ID/2022155 may concern:

Be it known that I, GLARRNCE H. Fnon- Lro'r-r, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Bethlehem, Northampton County, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ()bturator-Gperating Mechanism for Guns, or" which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to guns, more particularly to the obturator operating mechanism therefor, and it has for its object to provide apparatus of this character which shall include an obturator carried by block mechanism, the latter being operative to impart movements longitudinall of the gun in order to seat and retract the obturator, and the obturator and the block mechanism being movable laterally in order to expose the bore of the gun for charging.

A further object of my invention is to provide front and rear wedge blocks arranged in a suitable guide, the front block carrying an obturator for a gun, and an operating lever pivotally connected to the rear block and having a movable fulcrum connection with respect to the front block so that the rear block may be moved relatively to the front block to seat and retract the obturator, the fulcrum connection providing for the application of sutficient forces to secure firm seating of the ohturator and the ready retraction of the latter.

A further object of my invention is to provide a contract-ible and expansible and laterally movable blocl-z apparatus carry ing an obturator for a gun so that the obtura'tor may be seated and unseated by contractible and expansible movements of the apparatus and may be moved laterally of the gun to expose the bore of the latter for charging.

A further object of my invention is to provide a gun having a transverse opening intersecting its bore near one end together with a pair of cooperating wedge blocks in the opening, one of the: blocks carrying an obturator, and the blocks being capable of relative movement with respect to each other in orjd'r to seat and unseat the obturator, and both blocks being movable together when displaced in order to expose the bore of the gun for charging and to bring the obturator back to a position in alignment with the boreof the gun after which it is displaced axially in order to be seated.

Apparatus made in accordance with my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary horizontal sectio'nal view of the breech end of a gun showng my improved breech block mechanism in elevation, with the obturator in closed positlon;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the breech mechanism displaced so as to retract the obturator within the com lines of the transverse opening for the block mech anism Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the block mechanism displaced laterally in order to expose the bore of the gun for charging;

Figure 4; is a detail sectional view taken along the line IV IV of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a detail view, partly in seetion and partly in elevation, and showing the connections of the operating lever with respect to the front and rear blocks ofthe breech mechanism;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VIVI of Figure 1;

Figure 'Tis an end view of a gun turned 90 from normal position and having my improved block mechanism applied thereto;

Figure 8 is a detail view showing communicating transverse and longitudinal guide grooves for the rear and front blocks respectively;

Figures 9 and 10 are detail views of the rear block;

Figures 11. and 12 are detail views of the front block;

Figures 13 and Ll are detail views of the operating lever;

Figures 15 and 16 are detail views of the locking key; and

Figure 17 is a sectional detail view of latch mechanism. v

Referring now to the drawings for a bet ter understanding of my invention, I show a gun tube 10 having a transverse opening 11 at the breech end, the opening interrupting the bore 12 of the gun. A contractible and expansible and transversely movable block mechanism 13 carrying an obturator 14 for closing the propellent charge chamber is arranged within the transverse opening 11. The block mechanism is contracted in order to withdraw the obturator 14 within the confines of the opening 11, whereuponthe block mechanism 13 and the obturator 14 may be moved to one side to expose the bore 12 for charging.

The block mechanism 13 comprises a front tapered block 15, carrying the obturator 14, and a rear block 16, the blocks being tapered in opposite directions. The rear block 16 is provided with any suitable guide means such as tongue or key members 17 which fit corresponding grooves 18 provided in opposed walls of the transverse opening 11 (see Figure 6). Motion of the front block 15 is restricted to a pathlongitudinal of the gun while the obturator 14 is being brought within the confines of the opening 11 and while it is being seated. Any suitable means for this purpose may be used, for example, I show a tongue or lug 19 on the front block fitting in a longitudinal slot 20 in a wall of the opening 11, the slot opening into one of the recesses 18 so that when the lug 19 has passed out of the slot and is in the communicating groove or recess 18 the front block 15 may be moved laterally or transversely (see Figure 8).

The contacting inclined faces of the blocks 15 and 16 are provided with any suitable interlocking guide means such as a- Tslot 21 in the frontinclined faceofthe rear block which fits a tongue 22 of corresponding T- cross section. The rear block 16 is provided with lateral flanges 24 at the thick end thereof to limit entering movement of the rear block by contact of such flanges with suitable abutment surfaces 25 on the gun tube as will be clearly seen in Figure 4. In like manner, the front block 15 isprovided with stop or flange means 26 at the opposite side of the gun tube 10 which are adapted to come in contact with suitable abutment surfaces 27 to limit entering movement of the front block 15.

From the structure so far described, it will be apparent that, with the parts in closed position, as indicated in Figure 1, in

which the front and rear blocks 15 and 16' have their flanges 26 and 24, respectively, in contact with the tube 10 and the obturator 14 seated in the bore 12, movement of withdrawal or transverse movement in one direction may be imparted to the rear block 16. Movement of the rear block in this manner acts through the interlocking guide connection constituted by the slot 21 and the tongue 22 to impart longitudinal or retrograde movement to the front block 15, the latter movement continuing until the obturator 14 is Within the confines of the transverse opening 11 and the key 19 on the front block 15 has passed out of the longitudinal slot 20 into the communicating transverse groove 18,,whe1'eupon the front and rear blocks being displaced with respect to each other, as shown in Figure 2, may be moved laterally to the position shown in Figure 3 in order to expose the bore 12 for charging and to expose the obturator for the insertion of a primer.

The rear block 16 is provided with an opening 28, which is adapted to align with the bore 12 when the parts of the block mechanism are in open and in closed posi-' tions, as indicated in Figures 3 and 1, respectively. When the parts are in closet position, as indicated in Figure 1, the opening 28 permits of the insertion and fastening of a suitable lanyard (not shown) and, when the parts are in open position, as shown in Figure 3, the opening 28 is in alignment with the portion of the bore to the rear of the transverse opening 11 so that a charge may be passed through the aligned openings and into the propellent charge chamber. As indicated'in Figures 3 and 11, if the front block 15 is of sufficient length, with the parts in open position, it is necessary to provide a recess 29 in the thin end thereof in order to afford an unobstructed charging passage.

lVith the parts of the breech mechanism in closed position, as shown in F igure 1, an

initial transverse movement is imparted to the rearblock, such movement resulting in concurrent retrograde longitudinal movement of the front block. Both of these movements continue until the obturator is brought within the confines of the transverse opening 11 and until the front block may move transversely, which occurs when the tongue and key 19 passes out of the longitudinal groove 20 into the communicating groove or recess 18. Thereupon both blocks are moved transversely and in a direction opposite to the first transverse movement of the rear block until the latter occupies its former position, when the parts will be in open or charging position. After the charge is inserted, the blocks are moved in a reverse order to the mode just stated in order to bring the breech mechanism into closed position with the obturator seated, as indi cated in Figure 1. The mechanism for effecting these movements will now be described.

A lever 31 is pivoted at 31 to the thin end of the rear block 16 beyond the recess 32, hereinafter referred to and shown more clearly in Figure 9, and it is provided with a fulcrum connection 33 movable with respect to the adjacentend of the front block 15, so that when the lever 31 is moved out wardly from the gun from the position shown in Figure 1, to the position shown in Figure 2, the rear block 16 is moved transversely since transverse movement of the front block is prevented by the longitudinal key or tongue 19 fitting in the longitudinal slot 20; and, as hereinbefore pointed out, this initial transverse movement causes a concurrent retrograde movement of the front block 15 until the key 19 thereof passes out of the longitudinal groove or recess 20 into the communicating transverse'groove or recess 18, at which time the obturator 14 will be within the confines of the transverse opening 11. Outward movement of the lever 31 for the achieven'ient of these results is limited by an abutment 34 ich comes in contact with the front block 15 to prevent the operating lever from striking the rear surface of the opening 11 and to serve as a part of the locking means for holding the front and rear blocks 15 and 16, respectively, in their displaced positions in a manner to be more particularly hereinafter referred to.

The fulcrum connection 33 just referred to is preferably comprised by an inclined T- slot 35 in the thick end of the front wedge block 15 and a correspondingly shaped lug 36 carried by the lever 31. As shown in Figure 13, the lug 36 lies between the pivot connection 31 and a handle portion 38 and to one side of the line joining these parts, the abutment 34 being located between the pivot connection 31 and the fulcrum lug 36. The T slot 35 is inclined so as to be nearly tangent to the arc of movement of the fulcrum lug 36 when the parts of the breech mechanism approach and reach the closed position so that powerful longitudinal forces may be developed in seating and unseating the obturator. The abutment 34 is preferably comprised by a web extension carried by the lever and having an inclined face 39 adapted to contact with the bottom of the inclined T-slot 35.

After the lever 31 is swung out as far as permitted by the inclined face 39 of the abutment 34 coming in contact with the bottom of the T-slot 35, the front block 15 having moved rearwardly to bring the obturator within the confines of the transverse mortise opening 11, the handle 38 on the lever 31 and the handle 40 on the front block 15 may be pulled to move both blocks transversely in order to bring the opening 28 in the rear block 16 and the recess 29in the front block into alignment with the bore 12 so that the gun may be charged. Also, when the parts reach this position, as will be seen from Figures 3 and 7 the rear end 41 of the shank 42 of the obturator 14 will be exposed, due to the recess 32 in the rear block 16, for the insertion of a. suitable primer in the position indicated at 43 in the end 41 of the shank of the obturator.

It is desirable to prevent relative movement of the front and rear blocks 15 and 16 when they are moved transversely together; and, for this purpose, I show a latch in the form of a bell-crank 45 arranged in a lateral depression 15 in the front block 15 and pivoted to the latter. The lever 45 has one arm 46 provided with an abutment 46 adapted to contact with an abutment surface 27 at one end of the transverse opening 11 whenever the front block occupies a position with the obturator 14 in alignment with the bore 12. The other arm 47 of the latch is biased toward the rear block 16 by any suitable means, for example, by a spring-pressed plunger at 48. The relation of parts is such that when the front block is in such a position that the obturator is in alignment with the bore, the surface 27 contacts the arm 46 to hold the arm 47 within the confines of the front block 15. However, just as soon as the front block is moved transversely, the springpressed plunger device 48 forces the arm 47 out over the top surface 49 of the rear block as indicated in Figure 3. Vhen this occurs, the front and rear blocks are effectively locked together; the latch prevents relative movement of the blocks in one direction and the fulcrum lug- 33, the lever 31, and the abutment 34 in contact with the bot tom of the T-slot 35 prevent relative movement of the blocks in the other direction. The blocks are locked relatively to each other until they are returned when the arm 46 contacts with the surface 27 to retract the other arm 47, whereupon the lever may be swung inward drawing the rear block 16 inward, the key 19 on the front block entering the slot 20 and such inward transverse movement of the rear block results in forward longitudinal movement of the front block 15 to seat the obturator 14. This inward movement of the rear block continues until the flanges 24 come in contact with the abutment surfaces 25 and the lever occupies the position shown in Figure 1.

As illustrated, the construction of the spring-pressed plunger 48 is such as to hold the latch lever 45 in assembled relatiofi with respect to the front block. As shown in Figure 4, the latch lever 45 has a cylindrical pivot lug 45', which fits a bearing socket in the front block. The springpressed plunger 48 has a portion 48 which extends over the latch arm 47, a recess 47 being provided in the latter to receive the overlapping end. Hence it will be seen that the latch lever 45 is effectively held in place and that the latch and plunger do not extend above the side wall surface of the front block.

When the obturator 14- is seated, it is desirable to lock the front and rear blocks 15 and 16 to prevent movement of the rear block. For this purpose, I show the rear block having arecess 50 adapted to align with the T-slot 35, when the front and rear blocks are in the position to seat the bturator, a key 51 being pivotally connected to the lug 36 at 52 and adapted to fit both in the recess 50 and in the T-slot 35 to hold the blocks against relative displacement when the obturator isseated as shown in Figure 1. V

The breech mechanism hereinbefore described operates as follows:

Starting with the position of parts shown in Figure l, the lever 31 is swung outward, causing the locking key 51 to be retracted from the recess 50 into the T-slot 35; and,

as transverse motion of the front block 15 is prevented by the key 19 in the slot 20,

rearwardly due to the inclined interlocking guide connection constituted by the parts 21 and 22 between the blocks and the key and slot connection between the front block 15 and a wall of the transverse opening. Outward movement of the lever 31 continues until the inclined surface 39 of the abutment 34; comes in'contact with the bottom of the inclined T-slot 35, at which time the key 19 of the front block has passed out of the longitudinal slot 20 and into the confines of a groove 18 and the obturator 14 is within the confines of the transverse opening 11. This position of parts is shown in Figure 2. The handle 38 of the lever and the handle of the front block may now be pulled to move both blocks transversely, this movement continuing until the flanges 24 on the rear block come in contact with the surfaces 25 on the gun tube, at which time ,the opening 28 in the rear block and the recess 29 in the front block are in alignment with the bore 12 of the gun tube for charging and the obturator is accessible laterally of the gun tube and through the recess 32 adjacent to the pivot connection for the lever 31 for the insertion of a primer in the opening 43. When the blocks are pulled out transversely in this manner, initial movement of the front block 15 with respect to the gun tube releases the latch and the latter springs out to engage over the top surface 49 of the rear block 16, so that relative movement of the front and rear blocks is prevented by the latch and by the lever which is pivotally connected to the rear block and has the abutment andfulcrum connection with respect to the front block. This position of parts is shown in Figure 3. After charging, the handles. 38 and 10 are pushed inwardly with respect to the gun tube to move both blocks transversely until the flange means 26 at the thick end of the front block 15 come in contact with the surfaces 27 on the gun tube, at which time the key 19 on the front block is aligned with the longitudinal slot 20 and the arm 16 of the latch lever has come in contact with a surface 2'? on the tube to retract the arm a? from above the surface 49 atone end of the rear block 16. The lever 31 is now swung inward, thereby pulling the rear block transversely and moving the front block forwardly due to the interlocking guide connection already. referred to, this motion continuing until the obturator is seated at which time the flanges 24: on

the rear block are in contact with the surfaces 25 on the tube, thekey 51 has moved into the recess 50 to lock the blocks against relative movement, and the opening 28 in the rear block 16 is again in alignment with the bore so that a lanyard may be inserted through the portion of the bore to the rear of the transverse opening 11 and attached to the primer in the obturator. Since the T-slot 35 in the front block 15 has such an inclination that it is nearly tangent to the arc of movement of the fulcrum lug 36 during the final motion of seating and the initial motion of unseating, powerful forces for these purposes are available at the proper times.

While I have shown my invention in but one form it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed there-' upon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a gun, a breech block including contacting wedge elements, an obturator carried by one of the elements, a lever pivoted to the other of said elements, and a movable fulcrum connection between the lever and the first of said elements.

2. In a gun, breech mechanism including front and rear blocks having an inclined interlocking guide connection therebetween, a lever pivoted to the rear. block, a movable fulcrum connection between the lever and the front block, and a key for locking the blocks together connected to the fulcrum connection.

3. In a gun, the combination of a gun tube having a propellent charge chamber and a charging opening separated by a transverse opening, a rear wedge block in the transverse opening, guide means for limiting movement of the block to a predetermined transverse path in the transverse opening, stop means at the thick end of the block for limiting movement thereof in one direction, a front wedge block in the transverse opening, interlocking guide means between the blocks, an obturator carried by the front block, alever pivoted to the rear block, and a movable fulcrum connection between the lever and the front block.

a. In a gun, the combination of a gun tube having a bore intersected by a transverse opening at the breech end, an obturator for closing the bore at the front side of the opening, a front block in the opening and carrying the obturator, a rear block in the opening, an inclined interlocking guide connection between the blocks, transverse guide means for the roar block, longitudinal guide means for the front block extending sufficiently rearwardly of the front side of the opening so that the obturator may be brought within the confines of the latter, means for moving the rear block transversely to impart longitudinal movement to the front block, and means for moving both blocks transversely after the front block has been moved rearwardly sufficiently to bring the obturator Within the confines of the transverse opening.

5. In a gun, the combination of a gun tube, and breech mechanism therefor including a front block, an obturator carried thereby, a rear block, means for restricting motion of the rear block to a path transverse of the gun tube, an interlocking guide connection between the blocks, means for restricting motion of the front block to a path longitudinally of the tube While the obturator is being seated and unseat'ed, and means for moving the rear block transversely in order to impart longitudinal movements to the front block to seatand unseat the obtura-. tor.

6. In a gun, the combination of a gun tube having a bore intersected by a transverse opening, a wedge block in the opening, an obturator carried by the Wedge block, a second Wedge block, means for moving the wedge blocks relatively to each other to seat the obturator, and means for locking the blocks together after the obturator is seated.

7. In a gun, the combination of a gun tube and breech mechanism t ierefor including a front block, an obturator carried by the front block for closing the propellent charge end of the gun tube, a rear block, guide means for the rear block extending transversely of the gun tube, an interlocking guide connection between the blocks, a lever pivoted to the rear block, a movable fulcrum connection between the lever and the front block, means for locking the blocks together when the obturator is seated, and operating means for the locking means carried by the lever.

8. In a gun, the combination of a gun tube having a bore intersected by a transverse opening at the breech end, an obturator for closing the bore at the front side of the opening, a front wedge block in the opening and carrying the obturator, stop means at the thick end of the block for limiting entering movement thereof, a rear wedge block in the opening and contacting with the front Wedge block, and means for limiting entering movement of the rear wedge block.

9. In a gun, the combination of a gun tube having a bore intersected by a transverse opening at the breech end, an obturator for closing the bore at the front side of the opening, a front block in the trans verse opening and carrying the obturator, a rear block in the transverse opening, means for moving the rear block laterally of the gun axis, means for converting relative lateral motion of the rear block into axial motion of the front block to seat and unseat the obturator, means for moving the front block withthe rear block laterally of the gun axis, and means for locking the rear and front blocks together when both are moved laterally. I

10. In a gun, the combination of a. gun tube and breech mechanism therefor including a front block movable axially and mov able transversely to one side of the gun axis, a rearblock movable to the other side of the gun axis, means to convert relative lateral motion of the rear block with respect to the front block into axial motion of the latter, means for moving the rear block relatively to the front block to secure axial motion of the latter, and means for moving both blocks together laterally in one direction to. open the gun for charging and in the other direction to bring the obturator into alignment with the bore, whereupon the rear block is lllQgVGd relatively to the front block to move the latter forward to seat the obturator.

11. In a gun, the combination of a gun tube having a bore intersected by a transverse opening near one end, the portion of the bore at the forward side of the opening constituting a propellent charge chamber and the portion of the bore at the rear of the opening constituting an opening for the introduction of charges, a front block in the transverse opening, an obturator caried by the front block for closing the propellent charge chamber, a rear block in the transverse opening, means for moving the rear block transversely of the gun tube, means for converting the transverse motion of the rear block relative to the front block into axial motion of the latter to seat and unseat the obturator, and means for moving both blocks transversely after the obturator is retracted within the confines of the transverse opening in order to provide an unobstructed path across the transverse opening for the introduction of a charge to the propellent charge chamber through the charging opening.

12. In a gun, the combination of a gun tube having a bore intersected by a trans verse opening near one end, the portion of the bore at the forward side of the opening constituting a propellent charge chamber and the portion of the bore to the rear of the opening constituting an opening for the introduction of charges, a front block in the transverse opening, an obturator carried by the front block for closing the propellent charge chamber, a rear block in the opening and having an opening therein normally registering with the charging opening, means for moving the rear block transversely of the tube, means for converting relative transverse motion of the rear block with respect to the front block into axial motion of the latter to seat and unseat the obturator, and means for moving both blocks transversely after the obturator is retracted within the confines of the trans.

- and the portion of the bore to the rear of the opening constituting a charging opening, a front wedge block, an obturator carried by the front wedge block, a rear wedge block having an'opening adapted to register with the charging opening and having a recess at its thin end, an interlocking guide connection between the wedge blocks, means for moving the rear block laterally in order tomove the front block axially to seat and unseat the obturator, and means for moving both blocks together, after they are relatively displaced so as to bring the obturator into the confines of the transverse opening, in one direction to bring the opening in the rear block into registry with the charging opening for the introduction of a charge end of the rear block for the introduction ofa primer and in the other direction in order to bring the obturator into alignment with the bore.

' 14. In a gun, the combination of a gun tube having a mortise opening, an obturator, a front wedge block, a rear wedge block having an opening adapted to register with the bore of the gun, means for displacing the rear wedge block with respect to thefront wedge block in order to' retract the obturator and for restoring the relative positions of the blocks for seating the obturator and means for moving the blocks together when relatively displaced in one direction to expose the bore for charging and in the other direction for bringing the obturator into alignment with the bore.

15. In a gun, the combinationof a gun tube having a transverse opening provided with a groove at the rear side thereof and a groove extending longitudinally with respect to the gun communicating with the first groove, a front block in the opening having a tongue fitting in the longitudinal groove, a rear block in the opening having a tongue fitting in the groove at the rear side of the opening, an inclined interlocking gulde connection between the front and real blocks, a lever pivoted to the front block,

a movable fulcrum connection between the lever and the front block, a key for locking and unlocking the blocks with respect to each other rendered effective by movement of the fulcrum connection, and a latch carried by the front block for engagement with the rear block after the blocks are relative- .ly displaced for movement together laterally. V

16. In a gun, the combination of a gun tube having a transverse opening near one end intersecting the bore thereof and provided with opposed lateral grooves at the rear side thereof, a rear wedge block in the opening having ribs'fitting the grooves, a front wedge block in the opening, said opening having a groove which extends longitudinally with respect to the gun and which communicates with one of said opposed lateral grooves, a tongue carried by the front block and engaging in the longitudinally extending groove, an inclined interlocking guide connection between the blocks, an obturator carried by the front block, a lever pivoted to the rear block, an inclined undercut slot in the front block, a lug carried'by the lever-and fitting in the undercut slot, and means for limiting inward movement of each block.

17. In a gun, the combination of a' gun tube having a transverse openlng near one end intersecting the bore and provided with a transversely extending groove in one wall thereof and a longitudinally extending groove communicating with the transverse groove, a front wedge block having a key fitting in the longitudinal groove, an obturator carried by the front wedge block, a rear wedge block having a rib fitting in the transverse groove and an opening adapted to register with the bore, an interlocking guide connection between the wedge blocks, a lever pivotally connected to the rear wedge block, a movable fulcrum connection between the front wedge block and the lever, whereby the latter may be swung outwardly about the fulcrum connection to displace the rear block laterally to move the front block axially to seat and unseat the obturator, an abutment carried by the lever and adapted to contact with the front block to limit the outward swinging motion of the lever and the relative displacement of the blocks, a handle carried by the front block for moving the latter after the obturator is retracted, and a latch carried by the front block and effective upon initial lateral movement of Cir the latter to lock the front and rear blocks together during motion thereof for opening the gun for charging and during motion thereof for returning the obturator to a position in alignment with the bore of the gun.

18. In a gun, the combination of a gun tube having a transverse opening near one end and intersecting the bore, said opemng having transverse grooves in opposed walls thereof, a front block in the opening, an obturator carried by the front block, a rear block in the opening, ribs on the rear block tting in the transverse grooves, a wall of said opening having a longitudinal groove communicating with one of said transverse grooves, a key carried by the front block and adapted to fit in said longitudinal groove, a lever pivoted to one end of the rear block, flanges carried by the other end of the rear block and adapted to contact with edges of the opening to limit motion of the rear block in one direction, the front block having an inclined Tslot at the end thereof adjacent to the lever and having means at that end to limit motion of the front block in one direction, and a T-shaped lug fitting in the T-shaped groove and connected to the lever.

19. In a gun, the combination of gun tube having a transverse opening at the breech end thereof which intersects the bore, front and rear wet ge blocks in the opening, an obturator carried by the front block, guide means to limit movement of the rear block in a path transverse of the gun'tube, guide means for limiting movement of the front block longitudinally of the gun tube until the obturator is brought within the confines of the transverse opening, an interlocking guide connection between the front and the rear blocks, means for limiting inward movement of the rear wedge block, a latch rendered operative by initial transverse movement of the front block to prevent movement of the rear block relative to the front block in the direction of said initial transverse movement, a lever pivoted to the rear block, and a movable fulcrum connection between the lever and the front block.

20. In a gun, he combination of a gun tube having a transverse opening at the breech end thereof which intersects the bore, front and rear wed 'e blocks in the opening, an obturator carried by the front block, guide means to limit movement of the rear block in a path transverse of the gun tube, guide means for limiting movement of the front block longitudinally of the gun tube until the obturator is brought within the confines of the transverse opening, an interlocking guide connection between the front and the rear blocks, flange means at the thick ends of the blocks for limiting inward movement thereof, a latch carried by the front block adapted to engage with the rear block upon initial transverse movement of the front block after the obturator is retracted, said latch serving to prevent movement of the rear block relative to the front block in the direction of said initial transverse movement, an abutment carried by the latch adapted to engage the gun tube to withdraw it from the rear block, a lever pivoted to the thin end of the rear block, an inclined T-slot in the thick end of the front block, a T-shaped fulcrum lug carried by the lever and fitting in the T-slot, and means for locking the blocks together when the obturator is seated.

21. In a gun, the combination of a gun tube having a transverse opening at the breech end thereof which intersects the bore, front and rear wedge blocks in the opening, an obturator carried. by the front block, guide means to limit movement of the rear block in a path transverse of the gun tube, guide means for limiting movement of the front block longitudinally of the gun tube until the obtnrator is brought within the confines of the transverse opening, an interlocking guide connection between the front and the rear blocks, means for limiting inward movements of the wedge blocks, a lever pivoted to the thin end of the rear block, said front block having an inclined undercut slot in the thick end thereof, a fulcrum lug carried by the lever and fitting in said slot, the direction of inclination of the slot being such that when the obturator is seated it is almost tangent to an arc struck from the axis of the pivot of the lever and tangent to the fulcrum lug.

22. In a gun, the combination of a gun tube having a transverse opening at the breech end thereof which intersects the bore, front and rear wedge blocks in the opening,

an obturator carried by the front block,

said front block having an inclined undercut slot at the thick end thereof, a fulcrum lug fitted in the undercut slot and carried by the lever, a recess in the rear block and aligning with the undercut slot when the obturator is seated, and a key pivot-ally connected to the fulcrum lug for engagement in the recess and inthe undercut slot for holding the blocks against relative movement when the obturator is seated.

28. In a gun, the combination of a gun tube having a transverse opening at the breech end thereof which intersects the bore, front and rear wedge blocks in the opening, an obturator carried by the front block, guide means to limit movement of the rear block in a path transverse of the gun tube, guide means for limiting movement of the front block longitudinally of the gun tube until the obturator is brought within the confines of the transverse opening, an interlocking guide connection between the front and the rear blocks, a lever pivoted to the thin end of the rear block, said front block having an inclined undercut slot in the thickcndthereof, a fulcrumlug carried by the lever and fitting in the inclined slot, means for locking the blocks together when the obturator is seated, and latch means effective upon initial transverse movement of the front block to prevent movement of the rear block relative to the front block in the direction of said initial transverse movement of the latter.

24. In a gun, the combination of a gun tube having a transverse opening at the breech end thereof which intersects the bore, front and rear wedge blocks in the opening, an obturator carried by the front block, guide means to limit movement of the rear block in a path transverse of the gun tube, guide means for limiting movement of the front block longitudinally of the gun tube until the obturator is brought within the confines of the transverse opening, an interlocking guide connection between the front and the rear blocks, a lever pivoted to the thin end of the rear block, a movable fulcrum connection between the lever and the thick end of the front block, and a handle arranged at the thick end of the front block.

block in a path transverse of the gun tube,

guide means for limiting movement of the front block longitudinally of the gun tubt until the obturator is brought within the confines of the transverse opening, an in- .terlocking guide connection between the front and the rear blocks, a lever pivoted to the a thin end of the rear block, said rear block having an opening inside of the pivotal connection and an opening adapted to register with the bore, a movable fulcrum connection between the lever and the front block,and a handle at the thick end of the front block.

26. In a gun, the combination of a gun tube having a transverse opening at the breech end thereof which intersects the borefront and rear wedge blocks in the open ing, an obturator carried by the front block, guide means to limit movement of the rear block in a. path transverse of the gun tube, guide. means for limiting movement of the front block longitudinally of the gun tube until the obturator is brought within the confines of the transverse opening, means responsive to movement of the rear block rela tive to the front block for moving the front block forwardly and rearwardly to seat the obturator and to bring the latter within the confines of the transverse opening, and

means for moving both blocks transversely when the'obt-urator 1s: within the confines of the transverse opening, said rear block having an opening at its thin end to expose the primer end of the obturator when the blocks are in charging position and an opening adapted to align with the bore of the tube when the blocks are in charging position and when the blocks are in closed position.

27. In a gun, the combination of a gun tube having a transverse opening at the breech end thereof which intersects the bore, front and rear wedge blocks in the opening, an obturator carried by the front block, guide means to limit movement of the rear block in a path transverse of the gun tube, guide means for limiting movement of the front block longitudinally of the gun tube until the obturator is brought within the confines of the transverse opening, means responsive to movement of the rear block relative to the front block for moving the front-block forwardly and rearwardly to seat the obturator and to bring the. latter within the confines of the transverse opening, and means for moving both blockstransversely when the obturator is within the confines of the transverse opening, said rear align with the bore 0'1: the tube and with the bore-aligning; opening in the front block 10 when the blocks are in charging position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto 21th): my sig itnre this sixteenth day of January. 192

CLARENCE HERVY FROELIGH. 

